Switch



April 10, 195s R W. GUSTAFSON 2,741,676

SWITCH Filed March 4, 1954 ,J 'y Il /n en tof' Pap/ M/ Gus 2217415027,

way /Lf/S Attorney.

SWITCH Ralph W. Gustafson, Morrison, lIll., assigner to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 4, 1954, Serial No. 414,023

11 Claims. (Cl. 200.-67)

This invention relates to switches and more particularly to a small single pole double throw switch of the snap acting type.

It is frequently necessary to provide a small single pole double throw switch, i. e. o ne which will selectively connect one power line to either of two other lines. It may also be desirable that such a switch have a snap action, i. e. a provision for rapidly closing the contacts. In addition, it is desirable that such a switch be simple, inexpensive, and provide reliable service.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved snap acting switch incorporating the desirable features set forth above.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description and the accompanying drawing, and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

This invention in its broadest aspects provides a pivotally mounted spring member having movable contact means mounted thereon. A pivotally mounted block is provided positioned in the arc of travel of movable contact means. Stationary contact means are provided positioned on one side of the block and means are provided for selectively moving the spring member into a first position with the movable contact means on one side of the block engaging the stationary contact means and into a second position with a movable contact means on the other side of the block. In this device, movement of .the spring member from the second position to the first position causes the movable contact means initially to ride up on to the block and further to pivot the block away from the stationary contact means so that the movable contact under the inuence of the spring member suddenly engages the stationary contact thus providing the snap action.

In the drawing,

Fig. l is a top view, partly broken away, of a room thermostat incorporating the improved snap acting switch of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and partly in section of the thermostat and switch in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the improved switch of Figs. l and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the improved switch; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view further illustrating the snap action.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, there' is shown the improved snap acting switch mechanism of this invention, generally identified as 1, incorporated in a room thermostat for domestic heating or cooling equipment, generally identified as 2. It will be readily understood that this 2,741,675 Patented Apr. 10, 1956 is merely a typical application and that this improved switch mechanism may be utilized with any appropriate device. The particular room thermostat shown is more fully shown and described in Patent 2,587,351 to R. W. Manning, issued February 26, 1952, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 in addition to Figs. 1 and 2, the improved switch device 1 comprises a base member 3 formed of suitable insulating material. Base member 3 is shown here as being a common base for the other components of the thermostat 2, however it will be readily understood that it may form a separate base for switch mechanism 1 alone. Insulating base member 3 is shown as being held in a metal frame structure 4 by tabs 5 with an insulating sub base 6 completing the assembly. Frame structure 4 and sub base 6 form a part of the thermostat 2 and are not essential parts of the improved snap acting switch mechanism of this invention.

A support member 7 is provided which also forms a part of the thermostat 2 and which is connected to the base member 3 as shown by dashed lines at 8. Support member 7 has a downwardly extending projection 9 formed on its end portion 10. An elongated spring member 11 is provided formed of suitable relatively thin conductive metal such as Phosphor bronze. Spring member 11 has a rounded contact tip 12 secured to the free end 13 thereof in a suitable manner, as by riveting or welding as at 1d. The other end of spring member 11 is secured to a pivot 15 which in turn is mounted in end 1l) of support member 7. A manual actuating member lo, preferably formed of insulating material, is also attached to pivot 15, and spring member 11 and actuating member 16 are fixed with relation to the pivot in any suitable manner, as by nut 17. It is thus seen that spring member 11 is pivotally mounted on support member '16 by means of pivot l5 and that manual actuating member 16 will pivot spring 11 resulting in pivotal movement of movable contact tip 12.

A toggle block 18 is provided, preferably formed of insulating material, and pivoted at its end lil to the base member 3 in any suitable manner, as by a shoulder rivet 20. As is best seen in Figs. 3 and 5, the other end 21 of toggle block 18 is arranged in the arc of travel of movable contact 12 as will be hereinafter described. rhe sides of toggle block 1S are preferably beveled as at 22 for the purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

A pair of stationary contact tips 23 and 2d are respectively mounted on base member 3 on either side of toggle block 18 and may have external terminals 25 and 26 respectively connected thereto. lt will be seen that stationary contact tips 23 and 24 are positioned below the upper surface of toggle block 1S. lt will also be seen that downwardly projecting extension 9 of support member 7 extends into a guide slot 27 in actuating member 16.

In operation, and referring now additionally to Fig. 6, and assuming that actuating member 16 has been moved to the left as shown in Fig. 3 so that spring member 1l. and movable Contact 12 have been moved to the right, movable Contact tip 12 Will be urged into engagement with stationary Contact tip 23 by virtue of the spring action of spring member 11 and toggle block l will have been forced to pivot to the left, as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 6. Assuming now that .actuating member 16 is moved to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, spring member 11 and movable contact tip 12 will be pivoted toward the left so that movable contact tip 1.2 rides up over the adjacent beveled edge 22 of toggle block 13 and onto the upper surface thereof, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Continued movement of actuating member 16 toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3 results in pivotal movement of spring member 1l and movable contact l2 toward the left bringing contact tip l2 toward the left beveled edge 22 of toggle block 1S. Movable contact tip 12, under the influence of the inherent spring action of spring member 11, will then slide down over left beveled edge 22 thus forcing toggle block 18'to pivot toward the right toward stationary contact 23 so that movable contact tip 12 suddenly engagesfstationary contact 24 to provide the snap action, with the parts then being in the position as shown in Fig. 5. It will be readily seen that movement of actuating member 16 in the opposite direction produces a similar action breaking the engagement of movable contact tip l2 with stationary contact 24 and rcausing it to engage stationary contact 23 with a snap action.

It will now be readily seen that this invention provides an improved and simplied single pole double throw snap acting switch mechanism characterized by its simplicity, ease of assembly, and relatively few parts. It will also be readily seen that this construction may be utilized as a single pole single throw switch, or may be readily adapted for double pole operation. As shown inthe drawing, the common external connection is made to the supporting member 7 by a terminal (not shown), however it will be readily understood that a separate common terminal may be provided electrically connected to spring member 11.

While l have shown and described a particular embodiment of this invention, further modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art. I desire that it be understood therefore that this invention is not limited to the particular form shown and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A snap acting switch comprising a pivotally mounted spring member having contact means mounted thereon, a pivotally mounted block positioned in the arc of travel of said irst-named contact means, stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member into a iirst position with said tiret-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position and with said first-named contact on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said iirst position causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and l'inally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said first-named contact means engages said stationary contact means withra snap action.

2. A snap acting switch comprising a pivotally mounted elongated spring member having contact means mounted adjacent the free end thereof, a pivotally mounted block positioned in the arc of travel or said rst-named contact means, stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member into a tirst position with said first-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said rst-named contact means on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said first position causing said iirstnamed contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and tinally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said first-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

3. A snap acting switch comprising a pivotally mounted elongated spring member formed of relatively thin conductive material and having contact means mounted adjacent the free end thereof, a pivotally mounted block formed of insulating material positioned in the arc of travel of said tirst-named contact means, stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member into a i first position with said iirst-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said rst-narned contact means on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said irst position causing said iirst-narned contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said tirst-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action. 4. A snap acting switch comprising a spring member having Contact means mounted adjacent one end thereof and having its other end pivotally mounted, a block having one end pivotally mounted and having its other end positioned in the arc of travel of said first-named Contact means, stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block, and manual actuating means secured to said other end of said spring member for selectively moving thersame into a first position with said first-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on V the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said ysecond position to said first position causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact meansY whereby said iirst-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

5. A snap acting switch comprising a base member, a support member mounted on said base member, a Spring member pivotally mounted on said support member and having contact means mounted thereon, a block pivotally mounted on said base member, said block being positioned in the arc of travel of said first-named contact means, stationary contact means mounted on said base member on one side of said block, and means for selectively moving Vsaid spring member into a-rst position with said first-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary Contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side of said block, movementl of said spring member from said second position to said first position causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said first-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

6. A snap acting switch comprising a base member formed of insulating material, a support member formed of conductive material and mounted on said base member, a spring. member formed of relatively thin conductive material pivotally mounted on said support member and having contact means mounted thereon, a block formed of insulating material pivotally mounted on said base member, said block being positioned in the arc of travel of said first-named contact means, stationary contact means mounted on said base member on one side of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member into a tirst position with said first-named contact means on one side of said block andv engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said rst-named contact means on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said first position causing said iirst-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and nally to pivot said blockaway from said stationary contact means whereby said irst-named contact means engages said stationary V contact means with a snapl action.

7. A snap acting switch comprising a base member, a support member` mounted on said base member, an elongated spring member having contact means mounted adiacent one end thereof and having its other pivotally mounted on said support member, a block having one end pivotally mounted on said base member and having its other end positioned in the arc of travel of said firstnamed contact means, stationary contact means mounted on said base member on one side of said other end of said block, and manual actuating means secured to said other end of said spring member for selectively moving said same into a rst position with said iirst-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side oi said block, movement of said spring me aber 'from said sccond position to said first position causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and tinally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said first-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

8. A snap acting switch comprising a base member formed of insulating material, a support member formed of conductive material and mounted on said base member, an elongated spring member formed of relatively thin conductive material having contact means mounted adjacent one end thereof and having its other end pivotally mounted on said support member, a block formed of insulating material and having beveled sides, said block having one end pivotally mounted on said base member and having its other end positioned in the arc of travel of said first-named Contact means, stationary contact means mounted on said base member on one side of said other end of said block, and manual actuating means secured to said other end of said spring member for selectively moving the same into a first position with said first-named contact means in engagement with said stationary contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said rst position causing said firstnamed contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and inally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said rstnamed contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

9. A snap acting switch comprising a pivotally mounted spring member having contact means mounted thereon, a pivotally mounted block positioned in the arc of travel of said tiret-named Contact means, stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block, said stationary contact means being arranged below the upper surface of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member into a lirst position with said first-named Contact means on one side or" said block and engaging said stationary contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side of said block, movement of said spring member from said second position to said iirst position causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto said upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from said stationary contact means whereby said lirst-named contact means engages said stationary contact means with a snap action.

l0. A single pole double throw snap acting switch comprising a pivotally mounted spring member having contact means mounted thereon, a pivotally mounted block posie tioned in the arc of travel of said rst-named Contact means, first stationary contact means positioned on one side of said block and secondary stationary Contact means positioned on the other side of said block, and means for selectively moving said spring member to a first position with said first-named contact means on one side of said biock and engaging said iirst stationary Contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side of said block and engaging said second stationary contact means, movement of said spring member from one of said positions to the other causing said first-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from the opposite stationary contact means Where by said first-named contact means engages said opposite stationary contact means with a snap action.

1l. A single pole double throw snap acting switch comprising a base member formed of insulating material, a support member formed of conductive material and mounted on said base member, an elongated spring member formed of relatively thin conductive material pivotally mounted on said support member and having Contact means mounted adjacent one end thereof and having its other end pivotally mounted on said support member, a block formed of insulating material and having beveled sides, said block having one end pivotally mounted on said base member and having its other end positioned in the arc of travel of said first-named contact means, irst stationary contact means mounted on said base member on one side of said other end of said block, second stationary contact means mounted on said base member on the other side of said other end of said block, said stationary contact means being arranged below the upper surface of said block, and manual actuating means secured to said other end of said spring member for selectively moving the same into a rst position with said first-named contact means on one side of said block and engaging said trst stationary Contact means and into a second position with said first-named contact means on the other side of said block and engaging said second stationary contact means, movement of said spring member from one of said positions to the other causing said rst-named contact means initially to ride up onto the upper surface of said block and finally to pivot said block away from the opposite stationary contact means whereby said rst-named contact means engages said opposite stationary contact means with a snap action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,875 Bell Feb. 5, 1929 FOREGN PATENTS 534,961 Great Britain Mar. 24, 1941 

